This book and the two that follow it form the most undeservedly obscure trilogy in fantasy. If a coming-of-age adventure with a unicorn protagonist and a cast of characters including marauding gryphons, treacherous wyverns, and a goddess of many guises sounds unlikely, my only suggestion is, read and be entranced: it's beautiful! Pierce's exquisite, lyrical language and hypnotizing narrative spring from the same source as the epic cycles of myth and legend. At the same time, the wonderful creatures--mythical and otherwise--who people her world are vividly believable and blazing with life. The "young adult" designation is apt, but not important: these are great stories, and as any lover of fantasy knows, great stories transcend labels. Difficult as they are to find (the first two are VERY out of print, though the third, _The Son of Summer Stars_, is, I believe, still available,) they're worth the quest. These books have affected me powerfully in more ways than I can express, but I can say with confidence that once you have listened to the Lay of the Unicorns, fled from a serpent-cloud on the Great Grass Plain, and danced with a wyvern under a dark moon, the wild song of Aljan son-of-Korr will echo through your dreams ever after

I'll even admit it right off the bat: I still like unicorns. As a child, I was into anything unicorn-related--even the airbrushed, mass-media-image ones you saw given away as prizes at the State Fair. (You know which ones I mean, with the pink manes and everything. Admit it, you had them, too.) Now that I'm older, my unicorn-stuff collection has thinned out quite a bit. I've grown out of most of it...but there are keepers.

If you ever--EVER--had an imagination, this is your book. I've had my battered copy since it was published in 1985, and haven't gotten tired of it yet. The story centers around Aljan, Prince of the Unicorns. Aljan's journey takes you into a believable world full of legend and lore that will draw you in and hold you until the very last word. And then you'll want to read it again.

This book is part of the "Firebringer Trilogy," which includes "Dark Moon" and "The Son of Summer Stars," all by Meredith Ann Pierce. (Incidentally, all three will be re-published by Firebird Books in Summer 2003--a long time in coming, if I may say so!) While the second and third books are good in their own right, they don't come close to the first. This is the one you're going to keep.

I found the book at my library when I was in Jr. High (about ten years ago) and read it several times before returning it. Time passed but I could never forget the enchanting story of Aljan and the unicorn herd and their fight against the wyverns. I finally found the book again during the past year and read it again and it was better than I remembered. I also discovered the sequels to the original and I was overjoyed and immediately read them. I was delighted with them as well. Meredith Pierce knows unicorns. She makes them more than just a fairy tale and I thank her for the joy the books brought to me as a child and as an adult.

Amazing. I don't know what possessed me to do a search for this title today--and I'm stunned (and thrilled) that anyone other than me even remembers it! This was the first book I remember reading, too, in kindergarten or first grade, and I can still recite it 35 years later. I well remember the excitement of the very first time I read it--what a sense of accomplishment! (I'm sure it's no coincidence that I went on to work in publishing . . .)

I always loved this book. My middle name is Anne and I always felt I had a connection to the little girl because our names were the same. I also made red my favorite color for the longest time because of this book. It is a great book for a little girl to read. If I ever have a daughter, this is on the book list for her.

This is one of the first books that I can remember owning and reading. In fact there are photos done (i.e. Sears like) of me when I was about 3 or 4 and the photographer posed me holding that book. I would love to find a copy of that book so that I might be able to read it to my daughter.

Ben has touched my soul with this book. In the chapter on "Reality Checks," he shared the story of my friend, Ed Sample. If you read nothing else, read this chapter. It will help you put things in perspective just as it helped me. Thanks, Ben, for a great book.

Jack Stone PWS Group Dallas, TX

I came across Ben Gill as a TEC speaker a number of years ago. He started speaking to TEC groups to share his experience as a founding owner of a Company: how he did it, lessons learned along the way, mistakes made, etc.

Gill is a compelling speaker with down-home charm coupled with pragmatic advice and practical insights. I don't even hold it against him that he is from Dallas. His Company, RSI, became one of the most successful and largest religious fund raising firms in the country. Gill, I believe, literally founded the fund raising industry.

The book is a compilation of anecdotal stories. Each chapter is a story, followed by his insights, followed by questions for the reader to consider. The book is engaging, funny, poignant, touching, gritty, visceral, and philosophical. While it is almost 300 pages, it is any easy read. I found once I started it, I could not put it down.

The Message

While the book offers no theoretical premise, each chapter builds on an experience to build a "plank" into Gill's platform of how to run and grow a successful Company. Each chapter "story" can be a "stand alone module." In fact, it struck me that you could read the book of 30+ chapters in random order, without missing any of the message.

The book is waiting for the business gurus to distill Gill's wisdom into a theoretical premise on the principles of building a great enterprise.

Many of the themes are common to what we have heard in our Group and from our speakers. A few of these include:

1.Absolute integrity of the leadership: sharing the good and the bad news, admitting your mistakes, walking your talk. 2.Attracting the best and the brightest: smart, highly motivated, decisive. Talent is the ultimate differentiation of company performance, in Gill's assessment. But, the best and brightest have to be able to work in a cooperative team environment. 3. The critical role that coaching and mentoring make early in the career of a person. 4.People who are very successful have a higher calling: it's more than about money, it's about making a difference. 5.If you are not a life long learner, then you are dead(and may not know it.)

All in all, this book is well worth reading. In order to get the most from it, it does require you to spend some time with his questions at the end of each chapter. Therefore, I recommend that you read it twice: once straight through as an easy read, and note the chapters of particular significance for yourself. Then, go back and re-read the short list of highest relevance chapters for yourself, working the questions posed at the end of each.

For me, personally, the most compelling chapter is Chapter 16, called "Having Enough." The question posed is "what do you stand for?"(what do you represent). I struggled with that question for a long time. About a decade I evolved to my answer: making a difference every day in people's lives. How? By teaching people to fish.

John Gallagher

Certified Management Counsultant Paoli, PA

I read the review written by the CEO who gave this book to his top clients. Then I ordered the book and understood why. Any business person will receive great "take home" value from Gill's book. I have ordered copies for my top clients (about 100) and asked that Gill personalize them. To my surprise he agreeded. Now I see why he was able to grow a great company and I look forward to putting his lessons in practice in my company as well. This one is so filled with great, yet simple to implement, business ideas that it is hard to believe. My word to Gill - write another one fast!

Prolific children's book author and poet Mary Ann Hoberman has struck gold once again in this funny tale about the seven silly eaters (all children, naturally) in the Peters family. Mrs. Peters starts off as patient as can be, as each of the seven children develops some quirk or another having to do with size, temperature, taste, or type of food that they absolutely, positively WILL NOT EAT. She bends over backwards to accomodate their likes and dislikes, and the result is that the children are able to combine their favorite foods to come up with something wonderful for their wonderful mother's birthday.

The illustrations beautifully complement the story. Artist Marla Frazee's work has something of a Hillary Knight look to it (think early "Eloise" by Kay Thompson), and she beautifully captures the frenetic wiggliness and activity inherent in a family with seven children. Lots of fun for children, especially ones who happen to be (or know!) "silly eaters."

This book has character! From the interesting illustrations to the clever descriptions of the children's food preferences to the surprise ending!

This book is wonderful to read aloud to very young children because the rhyming captures their attention...not to mention the large, beautiful illustrations! Even very young children can remember each child's food preference! Also, everyone in the family can relate to someone in the book!

This book is also wonderful to read to a group or class! A fabulous story-starter or lesson "teaser" to get children to express their own preferences and individuality.

No matter how many people read along, this book's great message is that Mom loves you no matter what what your personality is like!!

In a word, this book is sheer delight. I don't know how many big families there are out there, but this book accurately captures the crazy chaos of living in a growing family and the challenges of making everyone happy at meal time.(I grew up in a large family.) Me, my children and my husband never tire of the lovely rhythm and rhyme of the Peters family story and their nightime escapade creating the ultimate birthday gift for their beloved Mom. In fact, my daughter and son insisted on making Dad "a pink and plump and perfect cake" for his birthday. SUPERB, detailed illustrations, delightful and memorable phrases - a very uplifting tale for weary, unappreciated parents and a BLAST for kids to read.

"True Selves" is the first book to provide the reader with some sense of what it is to be transsexual. The book is written by Mildred Brown and Chloe Rounsley. Mrs. Brown is a therapist who has worked closely with transsexuals for many years. Her compassion and understanding of the problems and suffering of this small group of individuals fills a gap that has existed for many years. Mrs. Browm starts at the beginning and explains this little known condition for the reader. She starts by defining terms that are often times misused by a "ratings hungry" media. She explains the medical, socialogical and psychological foundations. She also povides some insights into the suffering and pain that transsexuals are faced with each and every day. Mrs. Brown accomplishes this all in a down to earth style that both the lay person and professional will appreciate. THe book provides resources for transsexuals and professional alike. As a transsexual myself I found the book to be quite heartwarming as I discovered it was about me! Previous titles about transsexualism such as "The Uninvited Dilema" by M.A. Stewart had been the text that many professionals referred their clients to. With the release of this book I believe that they will soon use this as a means of opening the eyes of the friends and familes of their transsexual clients.

I bought his book because I needed a way to explain to my wife what I am, and why I feel the need to change. This book is positive, honest, comprehensive and well worth every cent I paid.

I am giving a copy to the important members of my family, and suggesting it as a source of information to friends and associates. Buy it, read it, feel better if you're transsexual, understand better if you're a friend, family, coworker etc.. etc..

I've read a number of books describing transsexualism, hoping to find the right one to give to people as I tell them about my own transition. When I read this one, I knew this was it, and I told my parents about myself within the week. They have since told me that this book was essential to their understanding of my condition. I believe the authors have provided an invaluable resource for anyone whose life is touched by knowing a transsexual person.

I am so glad this series made a comeback! I always knew it would! This has got to be the best BSC book Ann M. Martin has ever writen! It's touching, moving, and suspenseful. I'm in 9th grade and I still can't stop reading Martin's work! (California Diaries included) In #131, Mary Anne's house goes up in flames! She has nowhere to live and her dad and stepmom are even thinking of moving out of Stoneybook! since 1986, the BSC series has been about....well baby-sitting. Not that that's a BAD thing, it's just that the new plot is fresh, new and exicting! This is now just as wonderful as California Diaries! Keep them coming! Thanks Ann! The new BSC rocks!

I think The Fire at Mary-Anne's House(#131 BSC) is the most touching of the BSC books so far. I laughed when Mary-Anne laughed. I cried when she cried. I love animals and one thing I reallly liked about this book was that Ann M. Martin kept saying that Tigger was with her. I think that, even if you don't like the BSC, you should read this. Keep going strong Ann!!!

This book was so wonderful! I can't wait for the BSC Friends Forever series to arrive in book stores! I think the BSC is beginning to grow up. My personal opinion is that, while California Diaries is a good series, how long can you read personal journals? The BSC Members seem a little more heartfelt. I loved when the BSC rallied around Mary Anne when her house burned down. In California Diaries, all of the teens withdraw from themselfes (especially Sunny) and they get into more fights. The Fire at Mary Anne's House shows support and how much friends can be there for each other during those tough teen years. Not only that, but the plot was well written. All I can say now is after a long time the BSC is back! This and the new BSC series should be on all young adult reading lists!

Ann M. way to go! I was reading that other people thought California Diaries were too depressing and BSC too happy. I used to love the BSC, everything was perfect and in the end they always made it. In California Diaries it is just the opisite(sorry bout the spelling)These kids are facing tough times etc. I may sound really weird but living a happy life all the time is riduclas. Also a sad life is too. But people want to know about people who are worse off then them(I think).My fave people are Amalia and Sunny though Sunny has gone over the top. These books are making you itch for the next. Amalia: Diary Two is a great book! I love it and it may be the greatest book of the series so far. I haven't read Maggie yet because it is really hard to get. Five or six bookstores I went to-wow! I haven't met a person who doesn't like this series so far. As I said-way to go Ms. Martain!!!!

This book is excellent. Ann M. Martin is great at expressing problems that you can relate to. I would definately recommend this whole series for someone who is going through a tough time. I myself own all of the Cal. Diaries. I like books that don't always show you the bright side of life. I guess now I'm only wondering these things: 1. Is James going to leave Amalia alone finally? 2. Is Sunny's mom going to die, or recover? 3. Will MAGGIE recover? 4. Will Dawn ever make up with Sunny? 5. Is the California Diaries series going to be as long as the ever-growing Baby-Sitters Club? I hope Ann M. Martin reads this and answers some of these questions in her future books. Sincerely, Jaime Pfisthner

This is a great book. Maggie is still battling her eating disorder, and Amalia is trying to help her cope with it. The author really brings on strong points about anorexia and things that some may not know about. Amalia & Maggie's friendship reaches it's max. in this book, which is another reason why it is so good. Meanwhile, Amalia is also developing a romance with a certain new guy named Brendan. To find out what happens between the two, read this book and get ready to read it over again about 10 times, just because it's so good!

As a mostly self taught colored pencil artist, I am so happy that I discovered Ann Kullberg's new book. Her step by step instruction is clear and she makes it easy to understand and follow along. I am learning how to organize and layer many different colors to achieve really beautiful skin tones and how to use light and shadow both in photgraphing my subjects and in the drawing process to give my portraits real personality. There are so many tips and techniques in this book, and I've found that by using these methods my work is really improving. Thanks Ann for sharing your experience with other artists.

I just finished reading Colored Pencil Portraits Step by Step by Ann Kullberg. I found this book to be most informative and the beautiful illustrations made it so enjoyable to read. This book stood out from other colored pencil books in that the text truely follows the title of step by step. The author takes the reader through every aspect of creating a colored pencil portrait. The text is very in depth throughout, as an example, in one chapter the author takes the reader through the creation of a portrait covering every single decision and color used to create it. Also the author's personal anecdotes were enjoyable as well as informative. I have studied colored pencil for years and learned many new techniques and tips.

To me this book would be worth the price just for Kullberg's explanation of the technique of "scumbling". Fact is though, her "skin tone color guide" is something that is equally valuable, and well worth the time to construct (she shows how in the book)

I have probably read every book on "how to" paint in colored pencil. This one is the best published to date. Not only is it well done (and "step by step" as the title says) but Kullberg gives examples of not just how to paint drapery, but how to paint the various FABRICS (knits, polished, denim etc) and these are worth studying for one simple reason; Kullberg's portraits are so lifelike that sometimes at first glance you could confuse them with photographs. Her work is absolutely gorgeous. It REALLY gives you a benchmark to shoot for in your own paintings. The challenge of striving for that goal can provide you with a new excitement for your own work. I know this was bound to have been a lot of work for her to put together, but I really hope we see more such books from her in the future !

I 1st was introduced to this book as a 3-n-1 entitled "The Dark Angel Trilogy" when I was in Jr. High School close to 15 years ago. I had read it twice (all 3) before the friend that let me borrow her book moved out of state. It has taken me YEARS to finally fined a copy of all three (they no longer publish it as one book). I've always been fascinated with vampires and Meredith Ann Pierce's description of vampires is entirely unique. For a YA series these books had a lot of character depth in exciting yet heart-wrenching tale of one peasant's journey into saving her mistress, herself, her captor, & not to mention the world. Most everyone else will give you details of the book. I'll simply tell you that this series had such an effect on me that I wept when I finally had copies of all three books after 15+ years of searching ... Out of the 3 books, this one is my favorite.

I am in love with Ariel, Irrylath, and this brilliant world of fantasy that Ms. Pierce has created. She has such style and an impecable imagination. Her characters are so real that your heart pounds and your brow sweats in anticipation right along with the characters. The gargoyles are the best yet - like big bony, stone dogs - they were my favorites!! I read the book in 2 1/2 days if that tells you what a page turner it is. It really lived up to the excellence of the first book - The Dark Angel. My library carries the first two books of the series but not the final book, so I must wait in anticipation for the final book - The Pearl of the Soul of the World. I'm almost afraid to read the final book simply because I don't want the journey to end!! I will probably end up reading them all over again as soon as I've finished the last one. Applause goes out to Ms. Pierce and her unique imagination!!!!

A Gathering of Gargoyles was a quickly read book considering the fact that I couldn't put it down! This novel puts more depth in the characters, especially the two main ones, Irrylath and Aerial. Their relationship becomes less than the reader expects from the first volume, Darkangel. This once again puts Aerial through another action packed journey. Mystery slowly unfolds in Aerial's unclear past. I would recommend all readers out there to grab this book for a fantastic ride through an unknown place and time. If you haven't read Darkangel, I'd advice you to read the equally exciting first volume. I can't wait to put my hands on the final book of the Darkangel Trilogy!

This autobiographical condemnation of the south's Peculiar Institution puts a face on the suffering of the enslaved. American history is full of accounts of slavery which tend to broad overviews of the institution, whereas this book is written by an escaped slave who does not flinch at sharing every detail of her miserable life. Unlike other narratives which distorted the slave's voice through the perspective of the interviewers/authors who were notorious for exaggerating the uneducated slaves' broken english, this book is largely Ms. Jacobs' own words. She was taught to read and write as a child by a kind mistress, so she was able to put her thoughts on paper with clarity that surprised many. Ms. Jacobs had an editor, but this book seems to be her unfiltered view of the world.

It is one thing to hear about how slaveholders took liberties with female slaves, it is quite another to read in stark detail about women being commanded to lay down in fields, young girls being seduced and impregnated and their offspring sold to rid the slaveholder of the evidence of his licentiousness. The author talks about jealous white women, enraged by their husbands' behavior, taking it out on the hapless slaves. The white women were seen as ladies, delicate creatures prone to fainting spells and hissy fits whereas the Black women were beasts of burden, objects of lust and contempt simultaneously. Some slave women resisted these lustful swine and were beaten badly because of it. It was quite a conundrum. To be sure, white women suffered under this disgusting system too, though not to the same degree as the female slaves who had no one to protect them and their virtue. Even the notion of a slave having virtue is mocked. The author rejected the slaveholder's advances and dared to hope that she would be allowed to marry a free black man who loved and respected her. Not only was she not allowed to marry him, she was forbidden to see him or speak to him again.

The author shows us the depth of a mother's love as she suffers mightily to see that her children are not also brought under the yoke of slavery. Though she was able to elude her odious master, she does take up with some other white man in hopes that he would be able to buy her freedom. Her "owner" refuses to sell her and tells her that she and her children are the property of his minor daughter. Her lover seems kind enough as he claims his children and offers to give them his name, and he did eventually buy them, though he failed to emancipate them to spare them from a life of forced servitude. Ms. Jacobs noted that slavery taught her not to trust the promises of white men. Having lived in town most of her life, Ms. Jacobs is sent to the plantation of her master's cruel son to broken in after she continues to refuses his sexual advances. She is resigned to this fate until she learns that her children -- who were never treated like slaves -- were to be brought to the plantation also. It is then that she takes flight.

After enduring 7-years of confinement in cramped quarters under the roof of her grandmother's house, the author escapes to the North which is not quite the haven she imagined. Still, it is better than the south, and she makes friends who buy her freedom leaving her both relieved and bitter that she is still seen as property to be bought and sold like livestock. In New York Ms. Jacobs is reunited with her children and a beloved brother who'd escaped a few years ago while accompanying his master -- her former lover -- to the free states.

There is no fairytale ending to this story because the author endures plenty of abuse and uncertainty even after she makes it to the North. She is hunted down by the relentless slaveowners who were aided by the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 and "The bloodhounds of the North." This is a wrenching account of this shameful period of American history, and should be required reading for all.

First published in 1861, this book is much more than a narrative about slavery; it addresses many issues of gender as well. To escape the philandering intentions of her master, and to try to win freedom for her children, Harriet Jacobs spent seven years hidden away in a garret over her grandmother's house, three feet high at its tallest point with almost no air or light, with only glimpses of her children to sustain her courage. Until the 1980's, this book was presumed by most scholars to be a work of fiction created by a white abolitionist, but Jean Yellin's groundbreaking research brought the real Harriet Jacobs to life. The book has been published several times since the 1960's, often in inexpensive paperback versions that are much cheaper than this edition (2000). However, I'd recommend either this edition (which includes the short slave narrative published by Harriet's brother John, A True Tale of Slavery) or an earlier edition edited by Yellin if you want the full historical background on the book itself.

Intended to convince northerners -- particularly women -- of the rankness of Slavery, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl presents a powerful autobiography and convincing writing that reads like a gripping novel but is organized and argued like an essay.

Incidents follows the "true story" (its authenticity is doubted in some places) of Linda [Jacobs uses a pseudonym] who is born into the shackles of slavery and yearns for freedom. She lives with a depraved slave master who dehumanizes her, and a mistress who mistreats her. As the novel progresses, Linda becomes increasingly starved of freedom and resolves to escape, but Linda finds that even escaping presents its problems.

But Incidents is more than just a gripping narration of one woman's crusade for freedom, and is rather an organized attack on Slavery, intended to convince even the most apathetic of northerners. And in this too, Incidents succeeds. The writing is clear, and Jacobs' use of rhetorical strategy to preserve integrity is astonishing.

Well written, convincing, entertaining, Incidents is an amazing book.